IT was an afternoon of firsts when King Spirit won at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
The victory was the three-year-old’s first racetrack success, breaking through at his ninth career start in a QTIS 3YO (1015m) on February 22.
It was also jockey Montana Philpot’s first win since returning to racing after maternity leave.
Ridden by the apprentice jockey, King Spirit ($3.20) won by a quarter-of-a-length third up from a spell.
He’d finished second over 1000 metres on the Sunshine Coast last start.
“It was good to see him finally break his maiden,” trainer Stuart Kendrick said.
“He has been very close a number of times,” he said.
“It was also the first winner back for Montana after having a baby. She rode him well.
“The QTIS money made it a good result.”
It could have been an even bigger afternoon for the stable-jockey combination.
Philpot finished second on Kendrick Racing gallopers Iphemedia and Zoular in the next two races.
Connections in high spirits after QTIS victory
